Second Bison Discussion In Lewistown Is Canceled

Fish & Wildlife

Monday, April 14, 2014

State wildlife officials canceled a planned discussion that was to take place in Lewistown Tuesday and Wednesday on a bison conservation and management plan for Montana.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks had invited a diverse group of interests and a number of state and community leaders to continue to participate in a facilitated public discussion in Lewistown on April 15-16. That gathering, which would have been the second since September, is canceled.

"We worked to gather a large group of fundamentally different interests and constituencies, but there remained serious questions about intent and representation that are difficult to resolve," said Jeff Hagener, director of FWP in Helena. "The gathering was designed to review issues and possible alternatives for bison conservation and management, but at this point it would be counterproductive to proceed with the discussion."

The discussion group included conservation and agricultural representatives, state and federal agencies, county commissioners, and state legislators and members of the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission.

Hagener thanked the citizens who agreed to participate in the planned conversation and said FWP will attempt to reconsider existing and emerging concerns on Montana's bison management alternatives.